Wills & Trust Document Preparation
Keep your family out of probate court
We prepare living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for San Diego families, at a flat fee and at your direction. When your documents are ready, we arrange your signing appointment, with a notary and witnesses at the same appointment.
Schedule a free intake call See prices
Why San Diego homeowners plan ahead
A will does not avoid probate. If a home here passes by will alone, the family will likely spend a year or more in the San Diego Superior Court probate system before they can sell or transfer it.
California sets probate attorney fees by the gross value of the estate, before the mortgage, and the executor may claim an equal amount (Probate Code §10810). A funded living trust transfers the home directly to your beneficiaries, with no court case and no filing fees.
Probate fees compared with a trust
Probate fees are statutory attorney and executor fees, if both are claimed, before court costs. Trust is our individual living trust plus one trust transfer deed, before recording and notary fees.
Why work with a local LDA
We're local
We're based in San Diego and meet with you by appointment, at a time and place that works for you, so you can ask questions and review your documents without mailing paperwork back and forth.
Signing handled the same day
Trusts need notarization and wills need witnesses. We coordinate the notary and witnesses at signing, so nothing is left half-finished in a drawer.
We record your deed
A trust only avoids probate if your home is actually in it. We prepare the trust transfer deed and change of ownership form and handle recording with the San Diego County Recorder.
Living trust preparation
Includes your revocable living trust, a certification of trust, a pour-over will, and a general trust funding guide. A power of attorney and health care directive can be added below.
Individual
One person, with the trust, certification of trust, and pour-over will.
Married couple or registered domestic partners
One joint trust, with a certification of trust and a pour-over will for each of you.
Included with every trust
- Scheduled planning meeting
- Document preparation from the information you provide
- A review meeting before signing
- Signing appointment with a notary and witnesses
- General trust funding information, provided at signing
- A binder and digital copy of your signed documents
Half the fee starts your documents, and the balance is due at your signing appointment.
Add-ons and third-party costs
The deed fee includes the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report and e-recording with the San Diego County Recorder.
How it works
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1Day 1
Intake call
We go over what our services include and send you a questionnaire.
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2Within 5 business days
Documents prepared
We prepare your documents from your completed questionnaire and send drafts to review.
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3About one hour
Signing
You sign your documents with a notary and witnesses present.
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4After signing
Funding
If you've added a trust transfer deed, we record it with the San Diego County Recorder. You then retitle your accounts using the funding guide we give you at signing.
Wills and single documents
For families who don't own real estate, want basic documents in place now, or need to update an existing plan. A will does not avoid probate: an estate over $208,850 generally still goes through the court process even with a will. Whether a will or a trust fits your situation is your decision, and an attorney can advise you if you're unsure.
| Service | Flat fee |
|---|---|
| Will preparationFor an individual or a couple | $499 |
| Advance health care directive | $175 |
| Financial power of attorney | $150 |
| Certification of trust | $125 |
| Trust amendmentChanging trustees, beneficiaries, or distributions | $395 |
| Trust restatementA full rewrite of an existing trust | $795 |
| Affidavit of Death of TrusteeAfter a spouse or parent who was a trustee dies | $295 |
| Grant, quitclaim, or interspousal deedPlus county recording fees | $325 |
Compared with an estate planning attorney
San Diego estate planning attorneys commonly charge $2,500 to $5,000 or more for a trust-based plan. We prepare the same kinds of documents at your direction from $895, plus $325 per deed.
An attorney is the better choice when your situation is complicated: a blended family, a beneficiary with special needs, property in another state, a taxable estate, business interests, or questions about property tax reassessment when passing a home to your children. We'll tell you when we think you should talk to one, and we can refer you.
What we do, and what we can't
We do
- Prepare your trust, will, and related documents from the information and instructions you give us
- Prepare and record your trust transfer deed with the San Diego County Recorder
- Arrange notarization and witnesses at your signing appointment
- Provide a general funding guide at signing
- Provide published self-help information about estate planning
- Refer you to San Diego estate planning attorneys when you need one
We don't
We don't give legal advice or tell you which documents you need, who to name as trustee or beneficiary, or how to divide your estate. Those choices are yours, and an attorney can advise you on them. We prepare what you direct us to prepare.
Common questions
Can a Legal Document Assistant prepare a living trust in California?
Yes. California Business and Professions Code section 6400 authorizes a registered LDA to prepare legal documents, including trusts and wills, at the client's specific direction. An LDA cannot give legal advice or represent you in court.
What is trust funding, and why does it matter?
A trust only controls assets that are actually transferred into it. Your home is moved in by recording a trust transfer deed. Bank and brokerage accounts are retitled with each institution. A trust that was signed but never funded doesn't keep your family out of probate, which is why a general funding guide comes with every package.
How long does it take?
Most packages are ready to review within 5 business days after we receive your completed questionnaire. Signing takes about an hour.
Do I need to update my trust if my life changes?
Buying property, moving out of state, marriage, divorce, a death in the family, or a change of mind about beneficiaries or trustees are all reasons to review your documents. Amendments start at $395.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Photo ID, your property address or deed, a list of accounts and roughly what they're worth, and the names and contact details of the people you want as trustees, agents, and beneficiaries. If you have an existing trust or will, bring that too.
How does payment work?
Half the fee is due when we begin preparing your documents, and the balance is due at your signing appointment.
Get your plan in place
A free intake call covers what our packages include, our fees, and the information we'd need from you. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MANDATORY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER:
SD Thrive Solutions (SDTS) is a Legal Document Assistant, registered and bonded in the State of California, County of San Diego. SDTS is neither a law firm nor an attorney. SDTS is prohibited from providing legal advice; we cannot select legal forms for clients, and we cannot represent you in court.
We prepare legal documents at the specific direction of our clients pursuant to California Business and Professions Code section 6400. I am not an attorney. I can only provide self help services at your specific direction.'
Within this site, SDTS provides resource links directing you to procedural information and forms that have been made available to you by government agencies. The intent is to provide you with self-help resources that have relevance to your legal matter. These resources do not provide legal advice or legal opinion and should not be relied on as such.
SDTS’ services provide professional, accurate, self-help document preparation strictly under your specific directions. If you require legal advice or representation, please consult a licensed attorney.